South Brunswick workers are treated for carbon monoxide poisoning

Google MapsSite of the warehouse in Monmouth Junction where six workers were affected by carbon monoxide poisoning.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Seventeen employees were exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide this morning at a warehouse in Monmouth Junction, an area of South Brunswick, said Sgt. James Ryan, a spokesman for the South Brunswick police department.

Police arrived at Herman Warehouse Corporation at 21 Distribution Way at around 10:30 a.m., Ryan said, and found that one employee had already fainted. Altogether 17 workers were exposed to the gas, and others complained of headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea and vomiting. The warehouse was evacuated, Ryan said, and six workers were treated at the scene and one was sent to St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Monmouth Junction fire department also responded, Ryan said, and determined that the carbon monoxide was coming from seven forklifts that workers had been operating without proper ventilation.

Carbon monoxide levels were as high as 750 ppm (parts per million), nearly twice the “extreme exposure” rate of 400 ppm, said Monmouth Junction Fire Chief Brian Spahr. Normal readings are zero, Spahr said, and most residential detectors go off at 35 ppm.

The fire department remained at the warehouse to ventilate the building until around 2 p.m., Ryan said.